All about car tuning

Valladolid, Spain: top attractions, places to stay, good restaurants. City of Valladolid, Spain: description and photos of attractions Where to stay in Valladolid

Valladolid (Spain) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Valladolid with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Valladolid (Spain)

Valladolid is a city in northwestern Spain in the autonomous community of Castile and León. This is one of the largest cultural and economic centers of the country, the capital of an outstanding wine-growing and gastronomic region. Valladolid is a university city that served as the residence of the kings of Castile and Spain from the 13th to the 17th centuries. The historical center includes ancient sacral constructions, historical buildings and palaces.

Geography and climate

Valladolid is located on the Pisuerga River at its confluence with the Esgueva River in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The city is located on the Northern Plateau, which is a plain with small hills. The climate is continental Mediterranean. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are quite mild with occasional frosts. A little more than 400 mm of precipitation falls annually.

Practical information

  1. The population is 299.7 thousand people.
  2. The area is 197.91 square kilometers.
  3. The language is Spanish.
  4. Currency - euro.
  5. Visa - Schengen.
  6. Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
  7. The Tourist Information Center is located at: Pabellón de Cristal, Calle Acera de Recoletos.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit is April-June and September-October.

Story

The first mention of Valladolid dates back to 1074, when King Alfonso VI of León ordered the settlement of the Pisuerga valley. There are two versions of the foundation of the city. The first - Valladolid was founded by the Romans, the second - by the Arabs, who gave it the name "city of Valida".

At the beginning of the 13th century, the king of Castile moved his court here. In 1346, Valladolid received the right to establish its own university. In 1461, a strong fire almost destroyed the city. After him, Valladolid was rebuilt. In 1506, the famous navigator Christopher Columbus died here.

In 1469, the marriage of the Princess of Castile and the Prince of Aragon took place here, which led to the unification of Spain. In 1520, during the uprising of the Castilian cities, Valladolid becomes the northern capital of the rebellion. In 1521 the rebels were defeated. The city remained the capital of Spain until 1561, until it was damaged by another major fire.

The city was badly damaged during the wars with France. Many sights and monuments of architecture were damaged or lost.

How to get there

The airport is located 10 km from the city. The best way to get to Valladolid is to fly to Madrid first, from where there are regular trains. A high-speed train from Madrid to Valladolid covers the distance between cities in 1 hour. There are also regular bus and train connections to other major cities.

Shopping and shopping

In Valladolid you can buy the best wine in Spain and some typical sweets. In the city center there are several shopping centers and many different shops.


Food and drink

The region is famous for its pork and lamb dishes. There are restaurants that serve exclusively lamb dishes. Typical dishes: garlic soup, roast lamb, chorizo ​​tortilla, portillo. Asparagus, potatoes and other vegetables often serve as a side dish.

Attractions

The main square is the very center of Valladolid, located in the old town and topped by a statue of Count Pedro Ansurez. In the Middle Ages, a market and city gates were located in its place. The strongest fire in 1561 significantly damaged the square and the surrounding buildings. A new square was built under Philip II. It was the first geometrically correct square in Spain, to which ten streets and lanes led. The main square has become a model for squares in other cities of the country and South America. It hosts numerous seasonal events and Christmas markets.


The Cathedral of Nuestra Señora is a baroque church from the 16th century. The cathedral was built on the site where the older Gothic church had begun to be built. The tower, damaged by an earthquake in 1755, collapsed in 1841. A new tower was built on the opposite side of the cathedral.


Campo Grande Park is a green area right in the center of Valladolid. It was founded at the end of the 18th century and covers an area of ​​more than 100 thousand square meters. A great place to walk and relax from the hustle and bustle of the city. Peacocks walk in the park, there is a fountain, a reservoir.

Church of St. Paul's is the only building left of an old Dominican monastery founded in 1270. The existing church was built between 1445 and 1468, later expanded and restored. Church of St. Paul's is one of the most emblematic sacred buildings in Valladolid, with a beautiful Renaissance façade and a real stone altar. The interior of the church is made in the late Gothic style.


Church of St. Mary "Antigua"

Church of St. Maria "Antigua" is one of the oldest buildings in Valladolid, founded in the 11th century on the foundations of Roman buildings. The oldest parts of the church (tower and arcaded gallery on the north side) date back to the 12th century and are Romanesque. The rest of the temple was rebuilt in the 14th century on the initiative of Alfonso XI, King of Castile, in the Gothic style. The building is three-aisled with three polygonal apses. Declared a National Monument of Spain.


Church and Convent of San Benito "El Real"

San Benito "El Real" is a church and monastery built on the site of an old fortress. Fragments of medieval walls are still visible here. The monastery was built on the initiative of Juan I as a gift to the Benedictine order. The Church of San Benito has an outstanding monumental façade with two octagonal columns. After the ecclesiastical confiscation, the monastery building was used as a military barracks until 1965. Currently part of it is used as a museum of modern art.


The Cavalry Academy is a beautiful building of the 19th century in the style of noble Renaissance palaces. Various materials were used in its construction, such as granite and golden sandstone from Salamanca, which caused a beautiful polychrome. Now there is a museum of paintings and sculptures.


Seminary of St. Gregorio is a historical building of the 15th century with a beautiful facade, decorated with decorative and sculptural elements. The building now houses the National Sculpture Museum.


Herreriano Museum

The Herreriano Museum is a museum of contemporary Spanish art. Works by Joan Miro, Salvador Dalí, Antoni Tapi, Esteban Vicente, Eduardo Chillida, Luis Gordillo, Manolo Valdes and Ferrant are exhibited here. Free admission.

Valladolid is one of the most ancient and breathtaking places in Spain. A long time ago this city was the capital of the country, and even today you can find the remains of mighty fortresses and towers. Today, however, Valladolid has become a rather serious industrial city, and you will be charmed not only by the historical part, but also by modern architecture. If you want to spend an unforgettable weekend in one of the most interesting places of the Iberian Peninsula, feel free to go to a tour operator with a clear requirement: Valladolid (Spain). You will hear only positive reviews about this city, and if you dare to go there on vacation, make sure of this pleasant fact. So what to see in Valladolid? Read more about this.

Valladolid - a tourist center?

On the other hand, you may be confused by the fact that very few people actually know about Valladolid. This city does not have such a well-known reputation as a tourist center like Madrid or Barcelona, ​​it is rarely mentioned in the news. For example, recently the Spanish Cup "Valladolid" - "Tenerife", that is, one of the matches of the country's football cup, where a game between a local team and representatives of our ancient residence of kings took place on one of the Canary Islands, has attracted attention to it. Valladolidtsy, by the way, lost.

In addition, you can learn a lot about the city if you are interested in the history of the sunny Iberian Peninsula. So, it was here that the residence of the kings of Castile was located, the heart for four centuries from the thirteenth century to the seventeenth. Accordingly, the remnants of a great culture and history simply fill the streets of Valladolid, leaving no inquisitive tourist in the world indifferent. Even despite the absence of a halo of tourist Mecca, this place attracts the attention of many travelers. If you don't know where to go, then this place will be a very good choice, and you will be able to brag to your friends for a long time that you have been to this city.

Where to stay?

So vacation. You have arrived at the final destination of the ticket indicating: Valladolid (Spain). The sights of the city will, however, not be your first point of travel, you should first settle in one of the many hotels. The latter, by the way, suit every taste and budget: from expensive five-star establishments that repeat the atmosphere of the charming Spanish Middle Ages to small and cozy rooms where anyone who does not have such large finances can settle.

Valladolid (Spain): description

When you figured out where to stay, you should proceed directly to the study of the city. For lovers of a more measured tourist holiday, there is a whole series of excursions during which you will be told and shown everything about the sights of Valladolid, but you have to pay for this. Often this makes budget tourists refuse excursions, so we will try to help you explore the city by telling you basic information about it. In addition, independent discoveries are always much more pleasant and better remembered than what some guide will tell you.

City center

The center of Valladolid is located along Santiago Street, walking along it will lead you to Mayor Square. Here is located most of the administrative and citywide buildings - the city hall, opposite it is the Val market. The square itself is surrounded by many buildings with beautiful arches, and it is this place that can be called the starting point for any tourist. Often the first day of the trip is completely spent on considering the architecture of the city center, buying souvenirs and visiting the malls. Nearby, right at your fingertips, there are cozy cafes where you can take a break from the bustle of the city for some time.

and palaces

If you have dealt with the city center, you can move on. One of the main and most important sights of Valladolid can be considered the Cathedral. This cultural and religious value began to be built in 1582, more than four hundred years ago, and has not been fully completed to this day. Entering this huge building, you can walk inside several exhibition halls of the city museum, located right in the cathedral, see, for example, many valuable relics, which include a large stone altar. It has not only religious value, but also cultural - made in the Baroque style, this altar attracts the attention of many professional art historians, not to mention tourists. Near the cathedral is the church of Santa Maria la Antigua, as well as the old Pimentel Palace, the former residence of the kings, and today the government is located there.

National Sculpture Museum

The imagination of tens of thousands of tourists cannot but capture the pinnacle of architectural creativity - the National Museum of Sculpture. The building itself is already a masterpiece: unimaginable frescoes, many hand-decorated walls and ceilings - together with the high severity of the walls, more reminiscent of a fortress than a museum building. Inside, there are no less impressive collections of wooden sculptures, as well as frequently changing exhibitions, which will be interesting to see for any visitor to Valladolid.

Universities and schools

Another notable building worth seeing is the Universidad. Valladolid (Spain), whose photos of sights are presented in the article, is also famous for such monuments as the National Museum of Sculpture and the Cathedral, so do not miss the opportunity to see everything with your own eyes. A guide also leads tourists along the same route, telling in detail about all the sights. So, Universidad, as you can understand, even without knowing Spanish at all, is an old building of the university. It was opened more than five hundred years ago, and like any ancient monumental building, it attracts the attention of travelers. The facade of the building is decorated with symbols of sciences, thus giving it an unusual medieval poetry. Directly opposite the university is the school of Santa Cruz, like all the old buildings in the city - decorated with unique stone carvings.

Heritage of Castile

It is in Valladolid that a tourist can feel the depth and originality of the culture of Castile, the medieval severity of fortresses and Catholic cathedrals, see unique and exciting stone patterns on most ancient buildings that excite the imagination of any traveler. The Valladolids themselves are very sensitive to their cultural heritage, keeping some corners of the city since the early Middle Ages. Small, narrow streets seem to take us to the captivating baroque buildings for people who are accustomed to the gray landscapes of panel quarters, they will generally become some kind of revelation from above. Excursions in the city are carried out mainly along the same route as the order with which we described the sights of the city. And besides this, there is something to see here, the historical center of the city is literally dotted with large medieval mansions. There are dozens of magnificent churches and huge castles here.

An independent trip to Spain allowed me to see the sights of Valladolid, see the cathedral, churches and houses of the city, find out where you can eat inexpensively in Valladolid; if you want to know more - read the story about an independent trip to Spain

Thinking about how best to build a travel route in Castile, I took major cities as a basis and planned long stops in them. The first sign was Madrid, whose sights we saw first, and then traveled around the outskirts of the Spanish capital. The second point on our way was Burgos, the third - Valladolid.

The history of Valladolid began towards the end of the 11th century, when King Alfonso VI commissioned Count Pedro Ansures to develop the territory. Until that time, there were some villages on the banks of the Pisuerga River, and local historians diligently trace the foundation of the city to Roman times, relying on the archaeological finds of ancient villas, but still the history of Valladolid should be counted from the reconquest of northern Castile by Christians. At first the town was small, then under the skillful county management began to develop, and by the time of the reign of King Alfonso VIII began to play a prominent role in the economy and politics. The rise of Valladolid was facilitated by royal charters that granted him additional rights, crowded fairs played their role. As a result, the palace of the Castilian monarchs was added to the private houses of the townspeople and churches, who periodically stayed there with their close ones; then the state did not have a permanent capital, the court wandered from one place to another. Valladolid acquired its capital status in 1469, when King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile got married and chose the city as their residence. Until the moment when their successors moved to Madrid, Valladolid was the capital of a united Spain. At the beginning of the 17th century, for several years, the functions of the capital, at the request of King Philip III, were again transferred to this ancient city, but after that the stage of its gradual decline began. With the departure of the administrative bodies of the kingdom, the economy deteriorated, and a hundred years later the number of citizens decreased by five times. Valladolid experienced a new economic boom in the 20th century thanks to the automotive industry. Although the population is still 10 times smaller than that of Madrid, the city is considered the most important historical and cultural center of Spain.

When planning to get to Valladolid from Madrid, you need to be aware that you will be able to save one thing, either time or money. After all, you can travel from the current capital of Spain to the former in just 56 minutes if you take the express. True, then the ticket will cost almost 40 euros, and in this regard, a less high-speed train that spends an extra 10 minutes to get from Madrid to Valladolid looks more profitable by almost a third. If the toad is completely strangled, and you want to see the sights of Valladolid, it’s better not to covet the trains that run for more than two and a half hours, the savings there will be useless. It’s better to take the Alsa bus, which comes from Madrid in the same two hours, but it costs less than the train, only 13 euros. By the way, in my opinion, it would be a good idea to make a stop in Segovia along the way, and, having handed over things to the storage room of the local bus station, explore the city during the day, and then continue on to Valladolid in the evening chill.

Among other things, the bus station of Valladolid is equipped much better than the railway station. It only looks imposing from the outside, but when it comes down to it, it turns out that there is no left-luggage office at Valladolid Campo Grande as a class, the cat wept for waiting places, the only ticket machine may well be broken, so welcome to the tail of the queue lined up in front of the ticket office . As a plus for the Valladolid station, I can only add a free toilet and escalators that take passengers to the gallery connecting the tracks.

Having rolled out onto the Valladolid platform after moving from Burgos, we immediately noticed a huge crowd that was seething in the neighborhood, across the tracks. It turned out that these are passengers who expected to get to Madrid by high-speed train, are being screened before boarding. Moreover, the end-edge was not visible to this inspection, and when we left the station, the express train had already arrived, and the people in front of the metal detectors were still crowding visibly-invisibly ...

So, the Valladolid bus station made a much more favorable impression on me. He reminded me of a kind of Spain in miniature, where everything is done in a slight mess, in its own way. Here, for example, is the main gate, through which it is forbidden to walk, but everyone goes in a row, because it is more convenient. Here are a bunch of cash desks, each office has its own - this is typical in Spanish! - and before you go anywhere, you need to find out at the information desk which carrier serves this route. Here is the toilet, it can be arranged cunningly: the urinals are free, and the booths are under lock and key, if you please, pay money if you are impatient or overcome embarrassment. Here is the waiting room, in which there is nowhere to sit, but on the street, next to the bus parking lot, there are plenty of benches. About the fact that there is a left-luggage office at the Valladolid bus station, I have already said, I will say that there are also cafes and grocery stores inside.

Both transport terminals are somewhat away from the main attractions, so it may make sense to use local buses. The route network consists of two dozen lines, not counting commuter lines; additional transport is allowed, if I translated the ad correctly, on the days of football matches in order to carry the fans. You can check the schedule and other useful information on the auvasa.es website, but I’ll add on my own that the fare is 1.20 euros, tickets can be purchased directly from the driver.

We had nowhere to go, the hotel I chose was located on Paseo de Zorrilla, about a 10-minute walk from the bus station. Considering options for where to stay in Valladolid, I first thought about inexpensive hotels in the suburbs, and then suddenly I found a special offer from a place with a pretentious name "Silken Juan de Austria". As a short study found out, this is one of the best hotels in the city, and its price of 53 euros for a double room with breakfast seemed fabulous to me - usually the cost of living is around three hundred. Well, a fairy tale often comes true, and for relatively little money we got a cozy room with a full range of amenities, including air conditioning and a minibar. I was especially pleased with the rich breakfast with hot food and delicious coffee. So the morning for us began with a dense gas station, and we went for a walk in the finest mood.

According to my routine, in a new city, the first thing to do is get a map and various information materials. The Tourist Office of Valladolid helped us with our plans, it was located very reasonably, half way from the station to the center. Workers, lovely Spaniards, willingly communicated with the guests of the city, presenting them with maps, booklets, advice and smiles. All I needed was a map of Valladolid, but my counterpart looked like she was going to talk for at least an hour, providing exhaustive information about interesting places. As a matter of fact, booklets with descriptions of sights, hotels, cafes and shops can be taken by yourself, they are in abundance on the counters at the entrance.

The typed booklets did not bring us much benefit, since they turned out to be written mainly in Spanish, but we learned something from there. So, we managed to find out about the Valladolid Card, which is very useful for tourists, and find out the details about the sightseeing bus. A double-decker car with an open upper deck began to run around Valladolid relatively recently, but has already managed to gain popularity among tourists. The influx of people, in my opinion, is especially facilitated by the low price of tickets - for the right to use the bus during the day, you have to pay only 7 euros! A full circle around the city takes an hour, the route includes seven stops in the most interesting places. You can buy a ticket for a tour of Valladolid directly at the tourist office, flights start from Calle Acera de Recoletos; to get to the stop, you need to exit the tourist office and cross to the other side of the boulevard.

At the same time, I will mention the short cruises on the Pisuergo River offered by Pronautur. They are not very popular, and the trip organizers themselves write so frankly that cruises are scheduled for 12:30, 18 and 20 hours, but only if there is a group of people who want a certain size. I think that the price of 7 euros and the nondescript city embankments, which do not make a favorable impression, also play their role in low demand.

But really the center of Valladolid makes an impression, and even what! Especially good is the main square, equipped, as usual in Spain, in the best way. Those who come to Plaza Mayor are immediately struck by beautiful buildings, among which the local town hall stands out. The ensemble of the square began to take shape in the middle of the 18th century, but due to a huge fire that burned down half of the historical buildings, almost the entire center had to be rebuilt. By the way, experts believe that the custom of creating square squares went for a walk in Spain from Valladolid.

As for the town hall, the elegant building that housed the city officials was built relatively recently, in 1909. Prior to this, Plaza Mayor was adorned by another building, erected in 1561, it quite adequately replaced the previous version, which disappeared in the flames. The New Age City Hall stood for almost three centuries, until it was demolished due to dilapidation. As they say, to break is not to build, and having made a hole in the ensemble of the main square, the authorities of Valladolid for a long time could not get together to eliminate it. Either there was no money in the city treasury, or the project fell out of favor, and yet the process ended in triumph: the resulting town hall looks both solid and elegant at the same time, it is recognized as a masterpiece of architecture. Yes, it is recommended to visit the Plaza Mayor at least twice, during the day to appreciate the beauty of the ensemble, and in the evening when the lights turn on.

If you look at the map of Valladolid, the surroundings of the city's most beautiful square will be dotted with icons of cultural heritage sites, it is even difficult to choose where to go first. We headed north, aiming to see the Church of San Benito. The former temple at the Benedictine monastery was built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. As often happens, the builders put the building into operation, reported on it, and then slowly began to eliminate the shortcomings. For example, in the 1560s, San Benito received a new facade, and after a while the spire of the bell tower fell into disrepair, and they got rid of it. Because of this, the church, designed in the Gothic style, looks somewhat mundane ...

The neighborhood of this church is another, dedicated to St. Michael. The temple, one of the most revered in Valladolid, was built by the Jesuits, who owned it from the last quarter of the 16th century until 1767, when they were expelled from Spain. The building as a whole is decorated in a characteristic manner for Castile, however, the Jesuit past is felt in the decor and interior decoration.

Further north is the City Museum of Valladolid, which occupies a pretty three-story mansion. The exposition of the temple of history includes mainly objects of the ancient era, that is, antique mosaics, figurines, and other works of art. The Middle Ages is represented mainly by icons and other good things. We, I confess, did not reach later times, because it was very stuffy in the museum halls and we had to crumple the inspection in order to be in the fresh air faster. Well, at least the visit didn’t cost us a penny: you usually need to pay 1.20 euros for an entrance ticket, but they don’t take money from those who are seized with a thirst for knowledge on Saturday or Sunday.

Having caught our breath, we consulted the map and moved along Calle Leon in the direction where the Royal Palace of Valladolid was supposed to be. This large building, in theory, should embody that glorious era when the city had the status of a capital. In fact, the building has a purely indirect relation to the kings: when it was built, the value of Valladolid was already falling. In the 17th century, Spanish monarchs used the palace occasionally when they traveled around the country. The building does not differ in the splendor of architecture and suspiciously resembles a fellow in Escorial - the same symmetry of the facade, the same clear rhythm of the windows.

If we talk about the beautiful sights of Valladolid, then you should immediately go to the church of San Pablo. It looks like it was built in two stages: first, unremarkable towers were erected on the sides of the facade, and then they took up the design of the central part, completely covered with bas-reliefs and statues. The impression, by the way, is absolutely correct, because the church, dating back to the 13th century, was remade several times, and most of all the changes were made by one of the relatives of the famous inquisitor Torquemada and the favorite of Philip III. The first personally oversaw the next rebuilding, which took place in the middle of the fifteenth century, while the second, half a century later, paid for the creation of a luxurious facade from his own pocket.

Inside the Church of San Pablo, numerous art objects are collected, including a unique altar.

Continuing the tour of Valladolid, we went straight along Calle Angustias to the Archbishop's Palace. This building did not immediately become the residence of the spiritual rulers: when it was built in the middle of the 16th century, it belonged to completely civilian persons from the Villasante family, and only three centuries later the church took possession of it. Palacio Arzobispal looks very good, although it does not shine with beauty: in terms of design, many of the sights of Valladolid can outdo it. The light pink paint covering the facade spoils the impression very much, in my opinion, for the sake of harmony, a darker shade should have been chosen. And yet, it is necessary to pay attention to the palace, studying it as an example of the architecture of the transitional period, when the medieval canons are already in the past, but the freedom of creativity has not yet captured the minds of architects...

Near the archbishop's residence stands the church de las Angustias, marked with the seal of Italian influence. It is known for certain that the architect Juan de Nates was inspired by the architecture of the Apennines, and his building turned out to be very beautiful, not at all Spanish. Indeed, the sculptures and marble columns framing the entrance are not at all characteristic of Spain in the 17th century.

In addition to the appearance, the interiors of the church de las Angustias are also interesting, so do not be too lazy to visit inside this outstanding building.

Having finished with one temple, you need to look into the other, around the corner on the right. There is a church dedicated to Saint Martin, which began its "career" as a small chapel. The place of worship quickly gained the recognition of pilgrims, and already in the 12th century it was marked with a small church. It stood until the end of the Middle Ages and was demolished when the spiritual authorities decided to build a new object of worship. The work was officially completed in 1588, but then a long period of finishing and alterations followed, which seriously changed the interior decoration. In addition, over time, the tall spire of the Church of San Martin fell into disrepair, and it was replaced by a new rectangular tower.

Now it's time to see Valladolid's most important landmark, the colossal cathedral. Its construction was started by local authorities at the end of the 15th century, when the future of the city seemed cloudless; hopes for the best in them gave rise to the announcement of Valladolid the capital of a united Spain. Officials of the city council decided that the status of the capital implies large incomes and swung to build a cathedral that would outdo all the others. They were not even embarrassed by the lack of an episcopal chair in the city, without which it was impossible to build a church of this level. The project was designed by the prominent architect Juan de Herrera and work began. But the ambitious plans were not destined to come true, and after the royal court moved to Madrid, the treasury of Valladolid quickly became impoverished. Somehow, by the 18th century, it was possible to bring the building under the roof, but for this, the original plan had to be abandoned. In fact, the huge building is no more than half built - the planned northern part is completely missing, there is no dome, only one of the supposed four bell towers is available.

A hundred meters from the cathedral is the church of Santa Maria Antigua, which looks like new, although it is preparing to celebrate the millennium. This is because the building was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century; there was no longer any way to endure his poor condition. However, this is not the first cardinal renovation in the history of the temple, because initially it was designed in the Romanesque style of the 11th century, and three hundred years later it was transformed into the then fashionable Gothic. Now the church looks very stylish, although it does not harmonize with the surrounding buildings ...

Having examined the main sights of Valladolid, we gradually began to take away towards the house, because we were tired and personally I felt that I had enough impressions for today. But farewell to the interesting places of the city did not take place, because on the way we met very interesting objects. So, at Plaza El Salvador, we examined the temple dedicated to the same saint. It was laid in the 12th century, but two and a half centuries later it was replaced with a new version, which was then completed and improved several times; the most important changes concerned the façade, designed in the style of the early Renaissance. It is worth noting the interiors of the church, which were designed by the best masters of Valladolid.

The further road brought us to the Plaza de España with a ball-fountain full of holes in the middle; the structure seems to be considered a symbol of Valladolid, but personally I was much more interested in another object that stood out for its unusual appearance. As it turned out, this is the church of Nuestra Señora de la Paz, and not a museum of abstract art, as I first thought. Considering that there are a lot of different intricate sculptures around, it was not difficult to be deceived, the facade of the building, made in the form of a rainbow, also played its role; the religious purpose of the building gives out only a tiny cross on the roof. The guide to Valladolid kindly informed that inside the church looks even more unusual than outside, so do not pass by, good people ...

We met another unusual object on Calle Rastro, a few minutes after we passed Plaza de Espan a. Having previously visited the town of Alcala de Henares, we examined with interest the Cervantes house-museum there and were very surprised when we found another Cervantes house-museum, already in Valladolid. Local authorities, it turns out, spent a lot of effort finding out exactly where the famous writer lived, and in the 1860s they established the truth. Since then, the building has been under the care of the state, and since the most famous writer of Spain spent more than one day in Valladolid, his residence was carefully restored and made into a museum.

I can also recall Plaza de Santiago, decorated, as you can easily imagine, with the Church of St. James. The building, built in just four years with the money of a wealthy local banker, already after some hundred, at the beginning of the 17th century, collapsed - the spirit of the old chapel, demolished for the sake of a new building, avenged itself. I had to again look for a sponsor, invite an architect and carry out complex restoration work so that the church of Santiago regained its former appearance. The view, by the way, is not particularly outstanding, but the interiors are cool, and at least for them it is worth getting to the temple.

Our tour of Valladolid ended in the Campo Grande park. That is, we then thought that it was over, and slowly wandered along the alleys towards the hotel. We really liked the park, its landscapes are damn good. The territory occupied by it has long been used by travelers as a resting place before passing through the city gates. A change in the fate of the district took place at the end of the 18th century, when the quarters of Valladolid splashed out behind the ancient walls. Several streets were laid through the new area, and the unusual triangular shape of the Campo Grande park is explained precisely by this restructuring. A century later, the park area acquired appropriate features, it was lined with footpaths, a pond appeared and many flower beds were laid out. Now, under the crowns of old trees, the townspeople are resting en masse, and there are also a lot of tourists; picturesque corners and peacocks walking back and forth are prepared for the latter ...

As I said, heading home, we thought that the sights of Valladolid had been exhausted for today. But no, on the way to the hotel "Silken Juan de Austria" we were met by floods of people, without exaggeration. Amazed by the crowds of people milling about the city in the evening, we could not understand what was happening. The truth revealed itself very soon: the squat building, which the day before flashed somewhere on the visual periphery, was a bullfighting arena, and now satisfied fans were streaming past us. Having studied the Valladolid guidebook, I found that we are talking about an old building erected at the end of the 19th century, a popular and favorite pastime of the townspeople. Obviously, there are more than enough people who want to see a bullfight, because the next day we heard several times from the suspicious-looking uncles, who look like resellers, offers of an “extra ticket”. So tourists who are interested in how to get to a bullfight in Spain can prepare a wallet - there will always be tickets for them at double the price ...

Having finished with the tour of the former Spanish capital, it's time to talk about where you can eat cheaply in Valladolid. During a walk around the city, various kinds of establishments are often encountered, however, I personally did not find offers to dine cheaply. There are a lot of places in the center that are ready to serve a client with Spanish cuisine, for example, "Restaurante La Garrocha" next to the Church of Santiago, at Calle de Zun iga 21, but the prices there will easily bring the bill to 60-70 euros for two. The best we could find was the Achuri restaurant at the very beginning of Calle San Benito, but even there the set lunch cost 22 euros, which does not fit the definition of “cheap food” at all. In Valladolid, we reinforced our forces with visits to small cafes, which will be discussed further. Pleasant memories left me, for example, the ice cream parlor "La Otana" on Calle Lopez Gomez; there were so many varieties of delicacies offered that it was not easy to make a choice - who, one wonders, to prefer, mango to watermelon or strawberries to lemon ?! And all this abundance came at an affordable price of 1 euro per ball ...

Good was the confectionery "Blanco Hros" near the church of Saint-Martin. It sold fresh pastries, and the divine smell made the hand itself go into your pocket for a trifle - is 2 euros for a couple of delicious buns a lot?! By the way, the local cakes looked very appetizing, but what to do with them?

I remember the bakery “Dollar” with a funny name. No, dollars are not accepted in it, and you can’t buy anything there for a dollar. But if you have at least one euro on hand, you can already count on refreshing yourself by taking a solid cinnamon bun. Holders of three euros can take a hefty slice of pizza, so it’s still possible to eat inexpensively in Valladolid.

Perhaps it is worth mentioning for the sake of order also an institution called "Pizza Movil", located near the bus station itself. The menu there includes a special offer for those departing: you pay 5 euros and take a piece of pizza along with a carbonated drink on the road. In my opinion, the option is quite tolerable to chew on the road. I looked after it because I was afraid to be hungry due to an early departure: when the bus leaves at 7:20, and the hotel guests are invited to breakfast from seven, the prospects seem sad. Luckily, the porter came into our position, and when we arrived at a quarter to seven in the hall, the restaurant was already waiting for us. So we set off on the road full, cheerful and satisfied, albeit slightly sleepy.

Alas, although the employees of Silken Juan de Austria helped us as best they could, even they were unable to solve the problem of purchases. No, shopping in Valladolid is not bad, and there are a lot of shops, and there is "Il Corte Ingles" near the center. Only souvenirs were not found, and I really hoped to buy another magnet. Surely somewhere there are shops selling souvenirs, but they didn’t catch our eye. The best we could find was the Sandalo shop next to the bus station. Andalusian-style chasing was sold there, there were various Spanish jewelry, boxes with Moorish patterns that cost 25 euros looked good. Sell ​​the store on Calle Recondo magnets and postcards, he wouldn’t have a price, and so he had to leave without salty slurping. The main thing is that the city center is full of clothes and shoes, and shopping in Valladolid will undoubtedly give pleasure to those who like to shop abroad, but where can you still buy souvenirs?!

Interestingly, in neighboring Palencia, where we, expanding our horizons, went on an educational excursion, there were no souvenirs either - just some kind of pestilence attacked them. But we had a chance to see enough beautiful buildings from the heart, and besides, we managed to eat quite inexpensively, not like in Valladolid.

One of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Spain… Small but full of interesting stories, breathtaking views and beautiful sights. And all this is Valladolid.

Geographic location of Valladolid

This is the capital and largest city of the province of the same name, the location of which is very interesting and unusual. The city is located in the north-west of Spain, it lies in the very center of Meseta. What is most remarkable is that Valladolid is located at the confluence of two rivers, Pisuegra and Esgueva, which are famous for their incredible natural beauty.

Climate of Valladolid

Valladolid has a Mediterranean and arid climate. This is due to the fact that it is surrounded by mountain formations on all sides, which seem to protect the city from winds and precipitation. As a result, the temperature is sometimes too high. And the precipitation that falls here comes from the Atlantic Ocean and is distributed extremely unevenly. In the summer in Valladolid, the average temperature reaches 25 degrees, and the winter is not very cold, light frosts and fogs occur. Nevertheless, the climate is favorable for visiting this city.

Historical background of Valladolid

Valladolid is an old city, it has a long history, so historians still cannot agree on who it was built by, the Arabs or the Romans. But history knows for sure that this city, at that time a small village, was the first to be liberated from the Arabs during the Reconquista. After that, Valladolid began to develop rapidly. In the 11th century, King Alfonso VI of Leon instructed Count Pedro Ansures to settle the territory near the Pisuegra River, which the count did very successfully.

At the beginning of the 13th century, Valladolid became a court city; in the 14th century, the city was the residence of the queen regent for 30 years. In the middle of the same century, Pope Clement VI gives his consent to the construction of a university in Valladolid. The city is gradually becoming a significant place on the map of Spain. In 1420, the well-known inquisitor Torquemada was born here.

But 1461 was marked by a major fire for the city, but the city quickly recovered, and the first fire station in Spain appeared on the territory. But even the fire did not prevent the marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon in 1469, which became the date of the unification of the entire Spanish kingdom. In 1492, the Reconquista ended and Valladolid became the capital of Spain. But 1561 was also marked by a fire, as mysterious as it sounds (exactly one hundred years after the previous one). This year was the last for the city, as for the capital.

In 1601-1606 Valladolid again became the residence for Queen Anne of Austria, who is the heroine of Dumas' famous novel The Three Musketeers. But it was only a short period of time. The further fate of Valladolid was not so exciting, the city gradually began to fade. And in the past there was the power of the capital of the kingdom, its incredible prosperity.

But even now, even with its small population, the city remains a favorite place for many tourists who come here with pleasure.

Attractions in Valladolid and nearby

Despite the small number of population, here you can see many attractions, each of which will find its lover. For example, royal palaces. As you know, Valladolid was the residence of kings for many years. The Royal Palace (El Palacio Real de Valladolid) was built by a secretary of state who achieved great career success. The Spanish king Charles V often visited here. Then the building passed to the duke, who resold the palace to Philip III. After Valladolid ceased to be the capital, he still remained one of the favorite places of the Spanish monarchs.

Another "royal trace" in the history of the city is the Pimentel Palace (Palacio de Los Pimentel). Philip II was born here in the 16th century, and he will make the capital of Spain the city of Madrid. Unfortunately, the palace was badly damaged by fires, but it was restored, and now the Council of the Province of Valladolid is located here.

Literature lovers should definitely visit the house of Cervantes, who lived here in Valladolid from 1603 to 1606. It was in this house that the Spanish writer worked on his famous masterpiece Don Quixote and finished the novel here. Cervantes lived for three years with two sisters, a daughter and a niece. The house-museum contains authentic items of the author, as well as the entire design and furnishings have remained the same as in the 17th century.

No less interesting is the house of Christopher Columbus, who died here. This house is an exact copy of his palace in Santo Domingo. The great navigator was also buried in this city on Plaza Mayor. The exhibits represent the personal belongings of Columbus, maps and everything related to the discovery of America.

The Church of Santa Maria la Antigua impresses with its beauty, originality and style not typical for Valladolid. It is entirely built in the Gothic style, and construction began in the 12th century. She is incredibly graceful, perfectly proportioned, and the windows are covered with drawings, like fabulous ones.

The church and monastery of St. Benito (Iglesia de San Benito el Real y Real Monasterio de San Benito) are also made in the Gothic style. This is one of the oldest churches in Valladolid, the construction of which began at the end of the 14th century on the site of the Arab Alcazar. The interior decoration is striking in its splendor, and especially the altar decorations and carved seats. The seats are decorated with images of saints and genealogical trees of the most influential people of Valladolid. The monastery now houses a museum of modern art.

Excursions from Valladolid

Valladolid is located 180 km from Madrid. If you are visiting Spain and the center is Madrid, then it will be very easy for you to go there on an excursion. The city provides many excursions. One of the most unusual has become available to visitors recently. It's called the River of Light Route. The tour is held in the evening, when twilight is already touching the city. Each building has recently been upgraded with LED lighting. Moreover, each reminder has its own color: cultural objects are illuminated with purple illumination, but religious buildings will change illumination depending on the holiday - to white, red and green.

Ordinary excursions are represented by a route that passes through the most significant buildings of cultural and historical significance. They cover the inspection of these monuments, each is given 40 minutes. The cost of the entire tour includes travel, visits to museums. Also, tourists are given the opportunity to visit the best wine cellars, take part in wine tasting. Visitors are provided with lunch.

Such excursions take place quite often, and their cost is low, given what you will see, where you will visit. This is an unforgettable trip to an ancient city with a rich history.

Places for entertainment and shopping in Valladolid

Despite the large number of historical buildings, in Valladolid you can have a good time free from excursions. For example, the International Film Festival known as Seminci is held annually. As experience shows, here you can see films that are distinguished by their unusual approach of the director to this creative process. Some films were heavily criticized and banned from further screenings. So, welcome risky people.

If you are a fan of nightlife, then believe me, Valladolid is for you. This city is very popular among young people because there are a large number of nightclubs, dance floors and bars. All of them are modern, comfortable, in a word, magnificent for rest.

Local cuisine will surprise you with its diversity. A large number of fashionable restaurants will give you the opportunity to taste the best dishes. The close distance to the sea coast did not prevent the fact that fish dishes are very popular here.

The infrastructure of Valladolid is very developed and modern. If you plan to come here for a few days, then a number of excellent hotels will offer you their services. And the numerous shops and boutiques will provide you with a great shopping experience. The shopping centers of Valladolid are known for their reasonable prices and incredible discounts.

Conclusion

Valladolid is a great place to learn the history of this ancient city of Spain, to relax in the wonderful atmosphere of a European town, for entertainment that will fully complement your delight from such a successful and informative trip to Spain.

Valladolid is one of the most ancient and breathtaking places in Spain. A long time ago this city was the capital of the country, and even today you can find the remains of mighty fortresses and towers. Today, however, Valladolid has become a rather serious industrial city, and you will be charmed not only by the historical part, but also by modern architecture. If you want to spend an unforgettable weekend in one of the most interesting places of the Iberian Peninsula, feel free to go to a tour operator with a clear requirement: Valladolid (Spain). You will hear only positive reviews about this city, and if you dare to go there on vacation, make sure of this pleasant fact. So, what to see in the Spanish city of Valladolid? Read more about this.

On the other hand, you may be confused by the fact that very few people actually know about Valladolid. This city does not have such a well-known reputation as a tourist center like Madrid or Barcelona, ​​it is rarely mentioned in the news. For example, recently the Spanish Cup "Valladolid" - "Tenerife", that is, one of the matches of the country's football cup, where on one of the Canary Islands a game took place between the local team and representatives of our ancient residence of kings, attracted the attention of him. Valladolidtsy, by the way, lost.

So vacation. You have arrived at the final destination of the ticket indicating: Valladolid (Spain). The sights of the city will, however, not be your first point of travel, you should first settle in one of the many hotels. The latter, by the way, suit every taste and budget: from expensive five-star establishments that repeat the atmosphere of the charming Spanish Middle Ages to small and cozy rooms where anyone who does not have such large finances can settle.

When you figured out where to stay, you should proceed directly to the study of the city. For lovers of a more measured tourist holiday, there is a whole series of excursions during which you will be told and shown everything about the sights of Valladolid, but you have to pay for this. Often this makes budget tourists refuse excursions, so we will try to help you explore the city by telling you basic information about it. In addition, independent discoveries are always much more pleasant and better remembered than what some guide will tell you.

City center

If you have dealt with the city center, you can move on. One of the main and most important sights of Valladolid can be considered the Cathedral. This cultural and religious value began to be built in 1582, more than four hundred years ago, and has not been fully completed to this day. Entering this huge building, you can walk inside several exhibition halls of the city museum, located right in the cathedral, see, for example, many valuable relics, which include a large stone altar. It has not only religious value, but also cultural - made in the Baroque style, this altar attracts the attention of many professional art historians, not to mention tourists. Near the cathedral is the church of Santa Maria la Antigua, as well as the old Pimentel Palace, the former residence of the kings, and today the government is located there.

National Sculpture Museum

Another notable building worth seeing is the Universidad. Valladolid (Spain), whose photos of sights are presented in the article, is also famous for such monuments as the National Museum of Sculpture and the Cathedral, so do not miss the opportunity to see everything with your own eyes. A guide also leads tourists along the same route, telling in detail about all the sights. So, Universidad, as you can understand, even without knowing Spanish at all, is an old building of the university. It was opened more than five hundred years ago, and like any ancient monumental building, it attracts the attention of travelers. The facade of the building is decorated with symbols of sciences, thus giving it an unusual medieval poetry. Directly opposite the university is the school of Santa Cruz, like all the old buildings in the city - decorated with unique stone carvings.

Heritage of Castile

You simply cannot ignore the city where he lived and worked, perhaps, the most famous Spaniard in the world - Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Meet Valladolid! Located in the heart of old Castile, this large city witnessed the birth and formation of the Spanish state and was the capital of the Spanish Empire before it was transferred to Madrid. Kings were born and raised here, Columbus died here, and Cervantes finished his Don Quixote.

It was in Valladolid in 1469 that the young Isabella I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon arrived for a secret wedding, who were to initiate the unification of the Spanish lands and complete the liberation of the peninsula from the Arab conquerors. They will later make Valladolid the capital of their state. The imperial scope is still felt in the power of the ancient walls and the grace of the palaces of the city, which is rightfully proud of its past.

Sights of Valladolid

Most of the attractions of Valladolid are concentrated in the city center, delineated by the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgeva rivers. It is here that the 16th-century Valladolid Cathedral is located, one of the main unfinished buildings in Spain. As conceived by the architect, the cathedral was to become the largest in Europe, however, as often happens, finances failed. Nowadays, classical music concerts are regularly held in the cathedral, during which, by the light of candles and to the majestic sounds of the organ, you can easily feel like you are in the distant Middle Ages. There is also a museum in the cathedral, and the ruins of an old church of the 11th century adjoin one of its walls.

A building made of light limestone with a facade reminiscent of the creations of lacemakers, this is the National Sculpture Museum of Valladolid, which houses the most valuable collections of wooden and stone sculptures, carved altars, statues of saints and whole compositions on religious themes. The museum occupies three buildings, the main of which - St. Gregory's College - in itself is a pearl of architecture. The other two are the Palace of Villena, an aristocratic residence of the 16th century, and the Casa del Sol, also of the 16th century.


The House of Cervantes, where he lived from 1603 to 1606, is another of Valladolid's famous landmarks. The original furnishings have been preserved in the house-museum, and on the table in the room is a copy of the first edition of Don Quixote. If you close your eyes for a second, you can imagine how the famous writer, twisting his mustache, puts the last point under the legendary manuscript.

For those who are interested in what to see in Valladolid, the House Museum of Columbus, another famous Spaniard, is a must-see. This building partially reproduces the palace of the son of Christopher Columbus, Diego Columbus, located in the capital of the Dominican Republic. It was built on the site of an old house that belonged to the sailor's family and, unfortunately, has not been preserved.

The museum, which consists of four floors and is dedicated to the four voyages of the discoverer of America, contains Columbus's personal belongings, records, maps, instruments, as well as objects that he brought back from his voyages. The difficult life path of the famous traveler ended in Valladolid on May 20, 1506. It is believed that he died without knowing how great a discovery he made.


One of the best places for families with children in Valladolid is Campo Grande, the largest natural park in the city. The most attractive part of it is considered to be a pond with a fountain and a waterfall. Children will definitely enjoy a boat trip, and even more… royal peacocks, freely roaming all the paths of the park and willingly showing their fantastic plumage to others. In Campo Grande there are as many as three bird yards where pheasants, carrier pigeons and other birds live.

If the day is drawing to a close, and the fervor of exploration has not yet died down, welcome to the Gutierrez Passage, built in 1885 in the image and likeness of the shopping galleries in Italy and France. This is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and magical places in Valladolid, lost in the city center. It especially comes to life in the evening, when the illumination turns on, and the inhabitants of the city and tourists begin to fill the bars and pubs, which now mainly occupy the territory of the arcade.

Weather in Valladolid


Tourists wishing to explore the sights of Valladolid should remember that the summer here is quite hot and dry: in July and August, the thermometers reach 30 ºС. According to one version, even the name of the city comes from the phrase valle soleado, which means "sunny valley" in Spanish. Winter here is long and cool, and the coldest month in the city is January, when the temperature drops to an average of 4 ºС.

When to go?


A trip to Valladolid can be timed to coincide with one of the holidays that take place in the city. Perhaps one of the most fun and colorful is the carnival of Valladolid, which usually takes place in early February. At this time, performances of jugglers and tightrope walkers, dance schools, colorful processions and competitions of carnival costumes take place on the streets of the city.

Also in Valladolid, Semana Santa (Holy Week) is widely celebrated, when religious processions fill the streets of the city. This is a unique opportunity to see rare sculptures and figures that are kept in various churches, temples and monasteries of the province for most of the year. The tradition dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, and the splendor with which Holy Week is celebrated in Valladolid is the reason why this holiday has been declared an international tourist event.

In the autumn of September 8, Valladolid celebrates the day of the patron saint of the city of Our Lady of San Lorenzo. According to legend, this image appeared in Valladolid in the 11th or 12th centuries, when a priest brought it to the city to save it from the Arab conquerors. The festivities last ten days, during which various fairs, theatrical performances, tastings and concerts take place in Valladolid.

Where to stay in Valladolid?


Most of the hotels in Valladolid are decorated in a classic style, reminiscent of past centuries. Among them, there are both relatively inexpensive ones like Hotel Roma or Hostal Paris, as well as more luxurious ones, like, for example, Hotel Melia Recoletos.

Set in a historic building, Hotel El Coloquio is the perfect base for exploring the center of Valladolid, as it is right next to the walls of the Cathedral and just 180 meters from Santa Maria de la Antigua, another of Valladolid's landmarks. The unique design of the hotel combines modern trends with details from centuries past, such as exposed brick walls and raw wood beams. The hotel bears the name of one of the works of Cervantes, which he wrote while in Valladolid.